Cultural Relevance in Context: Latinx Caregiver Perspectives on the Familias Fuertes Program in a Non-Traditional Immigration State

Background and Purpose: Latinx families living in non-traditional immigration states such as Tennessee face unique sociocultural stressors—including anti-immigrant sentiment, language barriers, and limited access to culturally appropriate services—that increase the risk of behavioral health challenges among youth (Held et al., 2022; Brietzke & Perreira, 2016). These barriers are compounded by acculturative stress, discrimination, and challenges in navigating family dynamics, especially in regions where culturally responsive care is limited (Pineros-Leano et al., 2023; Cuevas et al., 2021). Family-based prevention programs culturally adapted for Latinx families have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing risk behaviors and strengthening family relationships (Parra-Cardona et al., 2019; Perrino et al., 2014). However, research underscores that not all culturally adapted programs meet the contextual needs of the communities they serve, particularly when implemented in distinct geographic or sociopolitical settings (Bernal & Domenech Rodríguez, 2012). Assessing cultural relevance is essential to ensure interventions reflect the lived experiences, values, and structures of the populations they target. Familias Fuertes (FF), a culturally adapted seven-session version of the Strengthening Families Program 10–14 (SFP 10–14), was developed for Spanish-speaking Latin American families to prevent substance use and improve family functioning (Orpinas et al., 2014; Pinheiro-Carozzo et al., 2021). This study explores Latinx caregivers’ perceptions of the cultural relevance of FF in East Tennessee, where program evaluation remains limited.
Methods: This qualitative study uses semi-structured individual interviews with 20 Spanish-speaking Latinx caregivers who completed a minimum of five of the seven FF sessions across six cohorts. Participants are 18 years or older, identify as Hispanic/Latino/a/x, reside with a child aged 9–17, and are English or Spanish proficient. Recruitment is facilitated through program records, and the primary investigator contacts eligible participants via phone or email. Interviews are conducted in English or Spanish and transcribed by a HIPAA-compliant service. Interview questions explore how program content, language, facilitation, and delivery setting aligned with participants’ cultural values and family experiences. Demographic data are collected through a brief pre-interview survey. Data are analyzed using inductive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006), with iterative codebook development and input from community partners to ensure cultural grounding.
Preliminary Results: Preliminary findings suggest caregivers viewed FF as culturally relevant and beneficial, particularly for enhancing communication, setting limits, and understanding youth stressors. Participants valued the Spanish-language delivery and community-based facilitation but recommended deeper cultural tailoring, such as addressing gender roles and immigration-related stressors, family hierarchies, and incorporating more relatable examples in role-plays.
Conclusions and Implications: Preliminary results emphasize the importance of evaluating cultural relevance when implementing adapted programs in new contexts. While caregivers found FF meaningful, their feedback highlights opportunities for enhanced cultural alignment. This study contributes to the evidence base on culturally grounded adaptations and underscores the importance of community-informed evaluation to ensure effective and sustainable program delivery for Latinx families in non-traditional immigration states.